One of the medical school’s most popular teachers and faculty physicians is among six UH Mānoa faculty receiving “Meritorious Teaching Certificates” in a ceremony April 30 at the Orvis Auditorium.

John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM ) Professor Dominic Chow is an outstanding, inspiring educator, with “a wonderful personality and ability to simplify complicated medical knowledge to fit each learner,” said Dr. Elizabeth Tam, Chair of Internal Medicine. Tam said there was a “strong consensus” throughout Internal Medicine that Dr. Chow is an excellent teacher. Dr. Chow, according to letters submitted by his colleagues, is also an excellent clinician.

“This respected physician continues to be requested by patients, as he supervises medical residents. He discovered early in his professional career that he wanted to move away from traditional teaching methods, so he could develop his own approach to motivating students as they tackle critical-thinking challenges. This approach, consistent with JABSOM’s Problem-Based Learning, is a key to his commitment to develop students as independent learners. Couple this strength with his extensive knowledge of Internal Medicine, and it’s not surprising that a third of JABSOM students select this field of specialization. His tireless advocacy through community service includes directorship of the Clint Spencer (HIV) Clinic.

Last December, on World AIDS Day, Dr. Chow received the State’s highest award in AIDS Care and Prevention, the 10th Annual Suzanne Richmond-Crum Award. World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2013 at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. The Hawai’i State Department of Health (DOH) said Dr. Chow earned that award “his tremendous contributions to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services in Hawai‘i.”

“For over 15 years, Dr. Chow has dedicated himself to taking care of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS,” said the DOH in a news release. Dr. Chow is an HIV expert and Director of the Clint Spencer Clinic, operated by the University of Hawai`i Mānoa medical school. It is a multi-specialty clinic focusing on the care of individuals with HIV and its complications, which now include diabetes, heart disease, dementia and cancer, as HIV patients grow older. The Clinic has about 400 patients on O`ahu and the neighbor islands. Some 3,000 people in Hawai`i live with HIV/AIDS. It is believed about 25% of them don’t even know they are carrying the virus.

The Clint Spencer Clinic is located at the former Gold Bond Building, at 677 Ala Moana Boulevard, just across the street from the JABSOM Kaka`ako campus. “Our HIV clinic would not exist without Dr. Chow’s hard work,” said Dr. Cecilia Shikuma, Director of the JABSOM Hawai`i Center for AIDS.

About the UH Clint Spencer Clinic
The clinic was named in memory of Clint Spencer, who died in 2001. Clint realized the importance of research in improving the care of Hawai`i’s HIV positive community; as a result, in 1992, he became the first patient to enroll in a research protocol through what is now the Hawai`i Center for AIDS. The Hawai`i State Legislature has been an important source of support for the Center for AIDS and the clinic, especially during its formative stages. HIV care at the clinic includes:
• Basic HIV care, including antiretroviral therapy and preventive care.
• Metabolic complications of antiretroviral hypercholesterolemia (high Cholesterol) and lipodystrophy (body fat abnormalities).
• Interpretation of resistance testing and salvage therapy.
• Viral hepatitis co-infection.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and disease in men and women.
• Women’s health concerns.
• Neurologic problems, including peripheral neuropathy and AIDS dementia.

The clinic accepts most forms of medical insurance and does not limit clients’ access to clinical services based on ability to pay. The Clint Spencer Clinic is in Suite 1024 at 677 Ala Moana Blvd. Its telephone number is (808) 692-1310.